Biggest micro organism?
A newfound species of micro organism, Thiomargarita magnifica, averages 1 centimeter lengthy and might be seen by the bare eye, making it the biggest micro organism but found, Erin Garcia de Jesús reported in “Newfound bacteria make a big splash” (SN: 7/16/22 & 7/30/22, p. 17).
Reader J.C. Smith identified that one other article within the journal appears to contradict the findings on this story. In “Live wires,” Nikk Ogasa reported that cable micro organism, which channel electrical energy, can develop as much as 5 centimeters lengthy (SN: 7/16/22 & 7/30/22, p. 24).
This is not any contradiction, Garcia de Jesús says. T. magnifica is a single-celled species of micro organism, which implies all the mobile features vital for the organism’s survival occur inside its one cell. Cable micro organism, alternatively, are multicellular, with completely different cells performing completely different features. “T. magnifica is the largest single-celled bacterium ever found,” Garcia de Jesús says.
Given that micro organism are sometimes outlined as single-celled organisms, reader Barry Maletzky puzzled how multicellular cable micro organism might be thought-about a part of the group.
Most micro organism are single-celled, Ogasa says, however a number of multicellular species do exist. “For instance, some cyanobacteria, sometimes called blue-green algae, are also multicellular. That allows the organisms to split the jobs of photosynthesis and nitrogen absorption between cells.”
Mapping out area
Massive objects that warp spacetime can redirect gravitational waves. Researchers may sometime leverage these waves as a type of gravity “radar” to see inside stars and discover globs of darkish matter, Asa Stahl reported in “Gravitational wave ‘radar’ could map the universe” (SN: 7/16/22 & 7/30/22, p. 12).
Reader Neil Kaminar puzzled if modifications within the frequency of sunshine coming from huge objects could possibly be used to detect the distortion of spacetime.
In principle, sure, says Glenn Starkman, a physicist at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. When gentle travels by way of spacetime towards or away from an enormous object, gravity modifications the frequency of the sunshine, he says. Scientists have witnessed one type of this course of, known as gravitational redshift, in motion on Earth.
But this impact would in all probability not be very helpful with regards to gravitational radar, Starkman says. After gentle strikes towards an enormous object, altering its frequency, it might then transfer away from the item. That course of would shift the sunshine’s frequency towards what it was earlier than the encounter, largely canceling out the impact, Starkman says.
Science and society
In “We won’t shy away from covering politicized science,” editor in chief Nancy Shute mirrored on Science News’ historical past of reporting on the science of politically contentious points and asserted our dedication to proceed that protection (SN: 7/16/22 & 7/30/22, p. 2).
Brigitte Dempsey was glad to learn Shute’s editor’s observe within the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court placing down Roe v. Wade, the landmark determination that had protected an individual’s proper to an abortion. Since then, debates round abortion and being pregnant biology have develop into extra heated, and correct science is usually lacking from the discussions (SN: 7/16/22 & 7/30/22, p. 6). “Bravo for meeting the issue square on,” Dempsey wrote. “Our only hope to bring reason to bear … is to let science speak.”